2 DEA Workers Accused of Lying About Owning NJ Strip Club: Complaint

A Drug Enforcement Agency analyst and a recently retired agent were arrested Wednesday morning on charges they allegedly lied on documents about running a strip club in New Jersey, according to a criminal complaint. Jonathan Dienst has more. (Published Wednesday, May 20, 2015)

The former head of the New York Drug Enforcement Administration organized crime task force and a DEA technology specialist were arrested Wednesday morning on charges they allegedly lied on national security documents, denying they ran a strip club in New Jersey, according to a criminal complaint.

David Polos, a former assistant special agent in charge of the New York City office, and Glen Glover, a telecommunications specialist, surrendered to the FBI were in court in Manhattan Wednesday to face charges that they made false statements on government documents. If convicted, both men face up to five years in prison.

Lawyers for both men said they would fight the charges.

"The charges against him are meritless, unwarranted, and he looks forward to being exonerated in court," said Avraham Moskowitz, defense attorney for Polos.

The two men, who both worked at DEA offices in New York City, allegedly indicated they had no outside jobs on a security form in 2011, even though they co-owned and worked at the Twins Go-Go Lounge in South Hackensack, according to the complaint.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, they likely would have lost their clearances had they disclosed that they owned the strip bar.

Polos, of West Nyack, New York, and Glover, of Lyndhurst, New Jersey, allegedly worked regular shifts at the club before and after filing the forms, authorities say. They hired and fired staff, manned back offices, monitored security feeds and took out ads for the club. Some of the business was conducted while they were supposed to be working with the DEA.

The complaint also alleges that most of the club's dancers are undocumented immigrants from Brazil or Russia. Investigators also allegedly saw dancers engaging in sexual activity with patrons and staff in private lounges, then exchanging money afterwards.

Law enforcement sources tell NBC 4 New York that authorities have been investigating alleged prostitution at the strip club, but neither Polos or Glover face charges in connection with those allegations.

A person answering the phone at Twins Go-Go Lounge said the club had no statement regarding Wednesday's arrests.

A DEA spokeswoman said the agency could not comment about the case because it is an ongoing investigation.

Polos, who had worked for the DEA from 1991 until April 2015, retired after learning he was under investigation, an official told NBC 4 New York. After the court hearing, Polos ran from news cameras and hid for hours in a parking garage, prompting the garage company to call police to have media and Polos removed.